The Emmy nominations had barely been announced Thursday before an online bookie was offering odds on who will win come September.

The odds, offered in the major Emmy categories by online gaming site BetWWTS.com, went up within a few hours of Thursday’s nominations. As with the nominations themselves, the early lines aren’t full of surprises.

One notable exception is “Alias” star Jennifer Garner, installed as the favorite among nominees for lead actress in a drama. The site puts Garner’s odds of winning at 8 to 5, while “The Sopranos’ ” Edie Falco – considered the front-runner by a number of critics and other observers – was at 5 to 2. Frances Conroy (4 to 1), Allison Janney (9 to 2) and Marg Helgenberger (5 to 1) are also nominated in the category.

“The Sopranos,” returning to the Emmy race after being ineligible last season, is the favorite among drama series at 9 to 5. Fellow HBO series and leading nominee “Six Feet Under” is given 2-to-1 odds, while last year’s winner, “The West Wing,” is at 7 to 2. Fox’s “24” (4 to 1) and CBS’ “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (6 to 1) are longer shots.

The early lines in the comedy races also favor HBO series. “Sex and the City” (2 to 1) and its star, Sarah Jessica Parker (8 to 5), top the best comedy and best actress in a comedy categories, while “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Larry David is a 2-to-1 favorite for best actor in a comedy.

BetWWTS apparently doesn’t consider any of the major nominees as huge long shots. Eric McCormack, nominated for lead actor in a comedy series for his work on “Will & Grace,” has the longest odds of winning at 8 to 1.

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UPN BEGINS SECOND “TOP MODEL’ SEARCH

UPN is wasting little time in getting the second edition of “America’s Next Top Model” rolling.

The talent search, which concluded last week, was a ratings surprise for the network this summer. Its final episodes drew more than 4 million viewers – a big improvement for its 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday timeslot – and performed well among UPN’s target audience of adults 18-34.

It’s no surprise, then, that the network wants to get a second “Top Model” on the air fairly soon. To that end, the network is accepting applications, available at UPN.com, through midnight Saturday and holding open casting calls around the country for the next few weeks.

The second edition of the show will take 12 finalists, two more than the first go-round, and put them together in a New York penthouse. They’ll then compete in various model-related disciplines under the eye of host/executive producer Tyra Banks for modeling and management contracts.

Adrianne Curry, a 20-year-old from Chicago, won the top prize the first time around.

The application for the show asks the standard background questions, along with such questions as “How often do you get drunk? How do you act when you get drunk?” and “How do you deal with someone who intimidates you?” Aspiring contestants must also submit a videotape with their application.

Open casting calls are scheduled for Los Angeles, Orlando, Seattle, Norfolk, Va., Nashville and several other cities. Times and locations are available on UPN’s Web site.

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AP-NY-07-18-03 1731EDT